Lamp-door-fastening device.



. W. T. JONES.

LAMP noon FASTENING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 19 11.

Patentd Dec. 5, 1911 iiituumx 7 v Iuumlnr UNITED STATES PAT WILLIAM 'I. JONES, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO EDMUNDS & JONES MFG. 0 0-,

orrron.

CF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION I OF MICHIGAN.

LAMP-DOOR-FASTENING DEVICE.

To all whom it'ma'y concern."

Be it known that I, ILLIAM T. JONES, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lamp-Door-Fastening Devices; and I dodeclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, "such'as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a lamp door fastener especially designed for fastening the doors of automobile lamps, but adaptable for other purposes, and consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out particularly in the claim. v

The object of the invention is to provide simple and efficient means for fastening closed, the doors of automobile lamps in a manner to constantly urge the door against the frame or body of the lamp and to afford a take-up which obviates the liability of the door rattling through wear of the fastening parts, the arrangement being such as to enable the fastener to be readily manipulated in opening the door and to render it automatic in securing or fastening the door as the door is closed.

The above object is attained by the arrangement illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp showing the application of my improved fastener to the door thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view illustrating the fastening device. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the spring loop carrying at its terminals the spherical members which cooperate with a third like member in eifecting the fastening device.

The great vibration to which automobile lamps are subjected, makes it necessary that the door be held closed under constant tension in order to prevent the parts from rattling. I provide for holding-the door forcibly against its casing or the body of the lamp when closed, by means of the fasten- Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed January 20, 1911.

Patented Dec. 5, 1911. Serial No. 603,692.

ing device shown herein, consisting of two opposed spherical members 1 mounted on the angular end portions 2 of the parallel arms 3 of a spring loop formed preferably of spring Wire and secured to the inner face of the side Wall 4 of the lamp body. In order to allow the spring side arms 3 free play laterally, the spring loop is secured in place by means of a clip 5 which embraces the loop portion 6 and which is riveted or otherwise secured to the wall of the lamp body. By this means the spring loop is securely retained in place while the spring arms thereof are permitted freedom of movement in order to bring into play the spring action thereof. The angular terminals 2 of the spring arms 3 pass out wardly through slots 7 formed in the wall 4 of thelamp body, the spherical members 1 carried on the angular terminals of said arms projecting some distance beyond the outer face of the body of the lamp close to the margin of the door opening. The door 8 is hinged at 9 to the lamp body in the ordinary manner, and projecting from the front edge thereof is a rigid arm 10 carrying upon the outer end thereof a globular member 11 having a conical projection 12. The balls or spherical members 1 carried on the angular terminals of the spring arms 3 are so disposed that the space between them is normally less than the maximum diameter of the globular member 11. The position of the arm 10 on the door is such as to cause the member 11 to enter between the balls or spherical members 1 When the door is closed, sufiicient pressure being exerted against the door to force the globular member 11 through the space between said balls or spheres the spring arms 3 allowing said balls to spring apart sufficiently' to permit of the passage of said member 11, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 8, the angular portions 2 of said arms during this movement traveling in the slots 7 in the wall of the lamp body. As soon as the globular member shall have passed between the balls or spheres 1, the tension of the spring arms 3 will retract said balls, causing them.

to forcibly engage the rounded surface of the globular member 11 between the central portion thereof and the point of attachment of the arm thereto. The tendency of the balls or spheres 1 to crowd together will have the effect of constantly urging the globular member 11 outwardly between their opposed faces, thereby holding with spring force the door tightly closed against the margin of the door opening in the lamp body, the tension of the spring arms 3 being sufficiently strong to prevent all rattling of said -parts, even when subjectedto intense vibration. When it is desired. to open the door, the operator places a linger in the rear of the conical projection of the globular member 11 and draws said member outwardly between the balls 1, the spring arms 3 yielding sufliciently to permit of this operation.

This device is of such a character that no manual operation is necessary to lock the door other than that of closing it, the fastening device being of such a character as to automatically lock the door when closed and hold it closed under spring tension.

Having thus fully set forth my invention,

what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A fastening device comprising spring arms, a fixed support having slots there through transversely of said arms, the terminals of said arms being bent at an angle to pass through said slots and project there from, spherical members mounted upon the projecting portions of said spring arms and disposed to afiord an intervening space between their peripheries, a movable element,

a globular member connected therewith, said globular member being adapted to crowd between said spherical members and to lie in forcible contact with their peripheries.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM T. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the (Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

